Broomfield man arrested on murder charge after body found in street near Westlake Park

A 32-year-old Broomfield man was arrested Saturday afternoon on suspicion of murder in connection with the body of a man discovered by police early that morning on a public street near Broomfield's Westlake Park.

Matthew P. Burnett was arrested at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and faces charges of first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence in the case, according to a news release issued by the Broomfield Police Department.

Police began investigating the case at 6:23 a.m. Saturday when a neighbor reported a man was lying in the street in the 2500 block of West 134th Circle near Alcott Street. The location is about one block from Westlake Park and Westlake Middle School.

When police arrived, they found the body of a 34-year-old Westminster man who had recently died, according to the release.

Investigators determined that the victim, whose identity has not been released pending notification of his family, had been involved in an altercation with Burnett at Burnett's home that lead to the victim's death, police say.

A search on whitepages.com shows that Burnett lives at 2551 W. 134th Circle, but Broomfield property records indicate he does not own the home.

When a phone number associated with Burnett was called Saturday evening, a man who identified himself as Burnett's brother answered. He declined to comment on his brother's arrest or the reported altercation with the victim in the case.

Police have not released a suspected cause of death in the case.

The victim's body has been taken the Adams County Coroner's Office, which provides contract coroner services to Broomfield.

Burnett is being held at the Broomfield County Detention Facility on no bond. He is scheduled to make his first appearance in court at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Broomfield Combined Courts building.

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